In early 2025, a series of viral YouTube videos sparked widespread online buzz, falsely claiming that Whoopi Goldberg collapsed in court after losing an $800 million defamation lawsuit to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. These videos, posted by channels like MagnetTV GENIUS DATA and Agenda Insight, alleged a dramatic legal showdown stemming from comments made on ABC’s The View. However, fact-checking organizations, including Lead Stories and Snopes, have confirmed these stories are fabricated, largely AI-generated, and lack any credible evidence. No major news outlet has reported such a lawsuit, which would have garnered significant attention if real.
The misinformation appears to stem from real tensions between Goldberg and Leavitt. In January 2025, during a segment on The View, Goldberg criticized Leavitt’s statement that there would be no “wokeness” in the Trump administration, remarking, “Without that wokeness, you might not have that job. Because women were not invited to that table.” Co-host Joy Behar also commented, suggesting Leavitt’s appointment as press secretary was due to her appearance, calling her “a 10” in Trump’s view. These remarks, reported by Mediaite and Fox News, drew backlash, including a response from Leavitt on Fox News in December 2024, where she called it “ironic” that The View hosts labeled Republicans as conspiracy theorists while being “wrong about everything.”
The viral videos exaggerated these exchanges, weaving a fictional narrative of a massive lawsuit, courtroom drama, and Goldberg’s supposed collapse. They used out-of-context clips, AI-generated voiceovers, and sensational titles to attract views. Posts on X amplified the story, with users sharing links to these videos, some claiming “truth and justice” prevailed. However, these posts are inconclusive and reflect a pattern of misinformation targeting public figures, as noted by Snopes, which has debunked similar false stories about The View.
This case highlights the dangers of AI-generated content and the rapid spread of misinformation on social media. The absence of credible reporting, coupled with disclaimers on the videos themselves, underscores their fictional nature. Meanwhile, the real exchanges on The View reflect ongoing cultural and political divides, with Leavitt’s role as a prominent figure in the Trump administration drawing scrutiny. As misinformation continues to proliferate, readers are urged to verify claims through reputable sources and approach sensational headlines with skepticism.
